How to Pick the Best Wheat Varieties for Yield and Long-Term Success

Wheat variety selection sets the stage for the entire crop, but there is no single “silver bullet” variety, explained Dennis Pennington, wheat specialist with Michigan State University Extension. Instead, choosing the right wheat is about balancing yield potential, disease resistance, and agronomic fit for the farm.

“Yield is the number one thing to look at,” Pennington said. “But yield alone isn’t enough. No variety wins every trial every year. Look for consistency in the top 10% of plots over multiple years and locations similar to your own.”